cross-posted from: https://lemy.lol/post/43264971
In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, hatred against Kashmiris and Kashmiri students in particular surged in at least four northern states and Jammu, fuelled by right-wing groups. We spoke with Kashmiri students who had exams to write but had no institutional support. Hiding in their rooms, hoping for the worst to pass without violence, they spoke of mental and emotional trauma.
You’re simply cheapening the word genocide by using it everywhere like this. Which government official called for an Israel like bombing in Kashmir? Do you even know India’s stand on Palestine?
India historically has been staunchly pro Palestine. There was a stamp in 1980 in solidarity. Gandhi and Nehru were pro Palestine. India was one of the few countries that opposed the partition of Palestine and the formation of Israel in the UN.
Right now, it has shifted to neutral in the right wing government. To say something so overtly pro Israel would be suicidal, considering its official non alignment stance. However, right wingers do have an affinity to Israel. That is disgusting, but they really aren’t anything more than influencers.
You posted a silly, sensationalist article and didn’t even read it. The government didn’t proclaim anything other than suspension treaties with Pakistan.
My local news channel has been focusing on the kindness and aid provided by Kashmiris who helped tourists after the attack and urging unity. Arnab Goswami is a warmongering clown. The article ignores the countless shows that were positive and focuses on only one show in the media. Every news channel I saw spoke about the one Kashmiri who was killed in the attack. Social media being awful is nothing new in India, we’ve all seen it. Most of my friends and family would be horrified at the notion of bombing Kashmir. These are the actions of a genocidal state? This is why western journalism about India is so shit. They don’t know anything on the ground.
Maybe rely on local journalism that isn’t in the government’s pocket, like newslaundry? Left wing journalism survives in India. Don’t condescend to us. It’s not our fault that western sources barring some investigative journalism are absolutely clueless.
There certainly was disturbing genocidal rhetoric in social media. This is not what a normal society does. But to claim that the central government is going to break every precedent and straight up bomb Kashmir is delusional.
But then again you are defending the Taj Hotel attack so maybe this isn’t worth it.
I want to learn more about the region. Can you share the local news channels you mentioned and any other non biased sources.
There is no neutrality in occupation. You either condemn crimes or you don’t. I shall assume that the baseline is that the source must condemn heinous crimes. I will admit my own biases; I am pro-liberation, but not pro-terrorism, which differs from my stance on Palestine as Hamas never harmed Palestinians and is genuinely fighting a colonial entity.
There is no understanding this conflict without history. A left-leaning Kashmiri historian had recommended Christopher Snedden’s books to me; I shall pass that along. He is quite sympathetic to independance. For the Pakistani involvement in the conflict, I’d recommend Manoj Joshi’s ‘Lost Rebellion.’ He is an Indian and worked for the government, so bias is inevitable, but he does condemn crimes in the region and has inside insights on the imperialism of both nations. It is a very balanced book. ‘Our Moon Has Blood Clots’ by Rahul Pandita is about the persecution and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus. There are other books but they must be read with a critical eye. I shall not recommend them as I think you aren’t looking for such a deep dive into the historiography of Kashmir.
News sources are difficult. Foreign journalists are banned in the region since 2019, and the press is not free. Indian sources are almost useless without context since they’ll never have the guts to condemn the occupation even if the individual journalist knows better. Liberal media organisations that typically critique the government fearlessly, do not give opinions on Kashmir because breaking India is too far out of the overton window and will never gather public funding, on which these run.
Free Press Kashmir is decent enough for a Kashmiri Muslim perspective. The Kashmir Walla was banned in India, it is also local. Newslaundry did some investigations into press freedom there as well. For human rights violations, JKCCS has some reports, in particular, ‘Torture’ was excellently sourced. It was also censored in India using DNS tampering (I think), seems unbanned now. It is quite harrowing though; do not read if you have a history of trauma.
Edit: if you meant the local news channel I mentioned, I’m afraid you wouldn’t understand it, it was in Marathi.
Middle East “experts” could fantasize about anything, including flying donkeys. Doesn’t make them relevant.
Nice dodge on Indians saying verbatim they want to be Israel.
Funny how you ignored my comment, refused to read your own article, refused to reply or refute any of my points or even u/mukt’s with anything other than strawman insults. It is clear you aren’t engaging in good faith, and your understanding of India is very poor, as is evident by your replies.
Read monkey, read.
Your last line shows I understand Indian racism and you don’t.
Racism is when people call you stupid. The stupider you are, the racister it is. Doesn’t matter if I even know your race or not, it must be racism because you said so.
You again apply America-centric standards. ‘Monkey’ has never been a racist insult in India. I literally just referenced a line from Young Sheldon. The fact that your mind jumped right at the racist connotation of the word reveals more about your own mind than mine.
You still refuse to answer any of the points I raised earlier. I shall disengage.
In your vocabulary, a random person who looks Indian = Indian government.
And you really want to be taken seriously, for unknown reasons.
The only citation which might have been valid, but it has been made after pahalgam terror attack and Mr Vaid is not actually holding the official position requiring this to be an official statement, nor is he talking about anything that happened while he was holding a relevant charge.
I believe enough oppurtunity have been given to you to make your case, but the only outcome is smoke and mirrors, drawn heavily by motivated actors from outside the nation. With advice to improve your reading comprehension, I am out of this discussion as a participant.
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